Words: Dorothy Porter

Narrator: Carol Burns

Music

Hartley Newnham Dorothy Porter Songs
Anni Hui-Hsin Hsieh New work
Amy Bastow New work
Ligeti Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet

When Dorothy Porter died in December 2008, Australia lost one of its most unique literary figures – a powerful and compelling writer whose intense, rich and original creations reflected her idea that poetry should have ‘a tongue of fire’. Porter’s fast-paced crime thrillers in verse such as The Monkey’s Mask helped transform Australian poetry from what Dorothy called ‘a dramatic cure for insomnia’, to something festive, exciting and – at times – dangerous! This concert pays tribute to Porter’s genius with settings of her verse by Hartley Newnham, plus Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles – one of the great classics of 20th century chamber music. Also featured are two newly commissioned works by exciting young composers Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh (Melbourne) and Amy Bastow (Sydney). This poetry will be read by distinguished Brisbane actor Carol Burns.